Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

The Continent of Ten Thousand Demons has four seas: the North Sea is deep and icy, the East Sea is vast and boundless, the South Sea is stormy and turbulent, and the West Sea is barren and desolate.

The South China Sea belongs to the Sky-Supporting Divine Turtle clan, the North China Sea is controlled by the Kun Fish clan, and the Flood Dragon clan dominates the entire East China Sea.

In the vast East China Sea, islands are scattered like stars, bearing spiritual veins and mineral veins that other royal families covet, supporting the prosperity of the dragon clan.

But the most magnificent of them all is undoubtedly Fulong Island.

This is the ancestral land of the Jiaolong clan. A giant spiritual vein, resembling a blue dragon, lies deep underground. The island possesses all five elements, and the five lineages of the Red Jiaolong, Azure Jiaolong, Blue Jiaolong, Golden Jiaolong, and Earth Jiaolong each have a place.

Even the rare Wind Dragon, Thunder Dragon, and Ice Dragon were bathed in rich spiritual energy.

Fulong Island is home to so many dragons, including dozens of demon generals who have already taken human form, and palaces and pavilions can be seen everywhere.

On the eastern side of Fulong Island, atop a majestic mountain, stands a grand hall perched on the edge of a steep cliff, overlooking the lush, verdant valley below.

Inside the main hall, the three sat facing each other.

Seated in the main seat was a burly man in a blue robe, seven feet tall, who was two heads taller than the other two even sitting there. His beard was bristling, and he looked exceptionally rugged, exuding a heroic air.

But at this moment, the burly man's eyes revealed a strong sense of vigilance and scrutiny as he looked the young man opposite him up and down.

The man was dressed in a black outfit and wore a gold-threaded openwork mask that covered the upper half of his face. The exposed skin was waxy yellow and slightly dry, but the eyes under the mask were exceptionally bright.

He held a large bowl in his right hand, sipping the blood-red spirit wine within. On his ring finger was a black and white ring, and he exuded a faint demonic aura.

Beside the man in black sat a middle-aged cultivator, dressed in a deep blue robe embroidered with a lifelike dragon. He had high brow bones, narrow eyes, and a slightly gloomy face.

But the smile plastered on his face revealed a hint of obsequiousness, completely destroying his air of profound mystery.

The middle-aged cultivator raised the large bowl, which was a bit too big for him, and bowed to the burly man in the green robe, saying with a smile, "I have heard that Fellow Daoist Ao needs a piece of spirit coffin wood to upgrade his divine weapon."

“Fellow Daoist Kunfeng happens to have a piece of spirit coffin wood, weighing thirty-nine jin and seven liang, which is more than enough for Fellow Daoist Ao to reforge his divine weapon.”

"Not only that, Fellow Daoist Kun is also willing to offer another Yin Iron Vine and two top-grade spiritual materials in exchange for a three-thousand-year-old spiritual herb. His sincerity is evident, and I hope Fellow Daoist Ao will consider it carefully."

The burly man in the green robe glanced at the middle-aged cultivator and said with a half-smile, "Fellow Daoist Dugu is quite well-informed, even knowing that I, Ao, need spirit coffin wood..."

As he spoke, he picked up the large bowl in front of him, tilted his head back slightly, and drank the blood-red spirit wine in one gulp. A few drops of spirit wine slowly dripped down his lips, like bloodstains after eating blood food, revealing a hint of ferocity.

The burly man in the green robe put down his large bowl, stared at the black-clad man named Kunfeng, and said coldly, "It is true that I, Ao, need the coffin wood, but not just anyone can trade with me."

"Out of respect for Elder Dugu, I am allowing Fellow Daoist Kun to enter the island today."

"But Fellow Daoist Kun is hiding his true face. Could it be that you look down on me?"

Kun Feng put down the large bowl and said calmly, "My clan and the Jiaolong clan have been at odds in recent years. If I were to reveal my identity, it would be inconvenient for both myself and others."

"Kun was injured for a long time and his condition was stubborn and difficult to cure. After searching for many years, he finally learned that there was a Jade Marrow Fungus on Fulong Island."

"After several twists and turns, I asked Fellow Daoist Dugu to introduce me, and I am willing to offer two top-grade spiritual materials in exchange for this spiritual herb. I have no intention of belittling it, and I hope Brother Ao will understand."

The burly man in the green robe softened his expression somewhat, but still retained a hint of coldness. He drank another bowl of blood wine and said in a deep voice, "If Brother Kun is unwilling to reveal his identity, I, Ao, will naturally not force him."

"But how can Brother Kun prove that you are of the Kun fish clan?"

Kun Feng's eyes flashed: "I wonder, since when has it become necessary to prove one's identity for such private transactions?"

Dugu Sha's expression also changed slightly, and he interjected, "Fellow Daoist Ao, Fellow Daoist Kun is not a human cultivator, so why is it necessary to prove whether he is a royal demon general..."

The burly man in the green robe said coldly, "In the past, there would have been no need for this."

"But recently, many strange things have happened in various parts of the Ten Thousand Demon Continent. Three demon generals of the Frost Bear clan were killed by human cultivators who suddenly appeared."

"Our clan's demon general Aolin and a demon general from the Blood Pupil Serpent wagered a human city in the Iron Mist Mountains. They should have captured it easily, but they both perished."

"The Nightmare Raven clan has suddenly become extremely vigilant, as if they have encountered a major upheaval..."

"All of these factors have led to stricter regulations within the clan recently."

"A four-thousand-year-old jade marrow fungus is extremely precious; how can it be handed over to a demon general so casually?"

"If this falls into the hands of human cultivators, I, Ao, will certainly be severely punished by my clan."

"Therefore, I, Ao, only trade with royal demon generals, and you must guarantee that you will never reveal the treasure in front of others."

Upon hearing this, Dugu Sha's expression grew even more unpleasant. He quietly turned his head and gave Kun Feng a wink.

But Kunfeng ignored it and smiled slightly: "Since Brother Ao insists, I will obey."

As soon as he finished speaking, his aura suddenly changed, and the demonic energy he emitted suddenly became more intense, sweeping through the hall. A pair of jet-black wings slowly unfurled from his back.

Dugu Sha was stunned, staring blankly at the pair of large black wings.

The burly man in the green robe suddenly stood up, staring intently at Chen Yuan with disbelief on his face.

Kun Feng sat steadily on the stone chair. Beneath the gold-threaded openwork mask, his bright eyes were calm as water, seemingly tinged with black, making them appear exceptionally deep.

A sealing force quietly spread out, and the air in the hall suddenly solidified, making people feel extremely oppressed.

Kun Feng said calmly, "I wonder if these wings can prove my identity? If Brother Ao still doesn't believe me, please move outside the hall. This place is a bit cramped, and I can't reveal my true form here."

The burly man in the green robe seemed to wake from a dream and burst into laughter: "Brother Kun, what are you saying? Apart from the Kun fish clan, who else can display these wings?"

"Such a powerful sealing force is nothing more than that of a high-ranking demon general. Looking across the entire Demon Continent, only the Kunyu clan can achieve this."

“I was forced by circumstances to act cautiously, and I hope Brother Kun will forgive me.”

He clasped his hands in a fist and bowed to Kunfeng, then slowly sat down with his towering body. However, his eyes still revealed a hint of surprise and doubt as he looked at Kunfeng.

As a mid-level demon general, his Azure Dragon bloodline was extremely pure, a rarity even among the entire dragon race; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to cultivate to such a level.

But just as Kunfeng revealed his black wings, a sense of fear rose from the bottom of his heart, causing him to stand up involuntarily.

It was a tremor that came from the depths of his bloodline; he had never felt this way, not even when facing the ancestor of the Azure Dragon lineage or the current patriarch of the Flood Dragon clan.

Could this demon general before me, who appears to be riddled with injuries and as thin as a human cultivator, possibly possess a bloodline even more noble than that of royalty?
But the burly man in the green robe quickly dismissed the idea. Although the Kun fish clan was also extremely powerful, its bloodline was at most similar to that of the Jiaolong clan, which was a distant branch of the true dragon.

Kunfeng must have exceptionally pure bloodline for him to have this feeling. The burly man in the green robe smiled broadly, filled the bowl with spirit wine, and raised the large bowl with both hands to toast Kunfeng: "No wonder Brother Kun is reluctant to reveal his identity. With such pure bloodline, Brother Kun must hold a high position in the Kunyu clan."

"If word gets out that they came to our clan to buy spirit herbs, it will probably attract attacks from other demon generals in the clan."

"This body must have been deliberately conjured by Brother Kun to conceal his true identity."

Both the Jiaolong and Kunyu races are known for their strong physical bodies. After their demon generals undergo tribulation and transform into human form, most of them are extremely burly. Only a very few demon generals have a physique similar to that of human cultivators.

When Kunfeng revealed his wings, even the burly man in the green robe felt a faint pressure from his bloodline.

Few can match the purity of his bloodline; after transformation, he should be as tall and strong as the man in the green robe.

Kunfeng's dark wings slowly retracted, and his aura returned to normal, with only a faint demonic aura emanating from him. His aura was similar to that of the burly man in the green robe, both being mid-level demon generals.

He sighed softly, filled the bowl with spirit wine, and raised the large bowl in return: "Brother Ao, your insight is truly remarkable. I was forced to resort to this desperate measure."

"The Jade Marrow Pill is originally used by high-ranking demon generals and even demon commanders. However, my injuries are special. I have taken several kinds of healing pills, but they are all useless. Only this pill can cure them."

"If Brother Ao can lend a helping hand this time, I, Kun, will owe you a favor, and I will definitely repay it in the future."

After exchanging toasts, the two drank the spirit wine in their bowls in one gulp. Dugu Sha quickly picked up the large bowl in front of him and drank the remaining half bowl of blood-red spirit wine. He frowned, seemingly feeling somewhat unwell.

The burly man in the green robe put down the large bowl. At this moment, all his doubts were gone. Seeing Dugu Sha's appearance, he laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist Dugu, please drink slowly. This blood wine was made by me, Ao, using the blood of seven demon generals. Drinking it regularly will have the effect of cleansing the marrow and removing impurities."

"Fellow Daoist's physical body is weak and cannot withstand it, so it is not advisable for you to drink too much."

Dugu Sha looked somewhat embarrassed. He put down the large bowl and secretly circulated his true essence to refine the violent spiritual energy contained in the spirit wine.

The demon race possesses a robust physical body, allowing them to easily withstand the spiritual energy within the blood wine.

In ancient times, the human race also had body cultivation, but the body-tempering spiritual herbs were more precious than ordinary spiritual herbs, and they were all obtained by the demon race. Over time, the human race's body cultivation gradually disappeared.

Today, physical cultivation among humans has become extinct, even among the eight major divine sects.

The burly man in the green robe laughed even more heartily, and Kunfeng also smiled, creating a harmonious atmosphere in the hall.

The burly man in the green robe looked at Kun Feng and laughed, "Brother Kun, you flatter me. In exchange for two top-grade spiritual materials, I, Ao, have actually gained an advantage. There's no question of favors involved."

"However, this matter involves the clan's medicinal herb garden, and I, Ao, cannot make the decision on my own. Brother Kun, you will have to wait a few more days."

Kunfeng pondered for a moment, then flicked his sleeve, and a clump of thin, black vines, about the thickness of a finger, appeared out of thin air on the table.

He said calmly, "Please accept this Yin Iron Vine, Brother Ao, as a deposit. After the matter is settled, I will present you with another piece of spirit coffin wood."

The burly man in the green robe was taken aback. He glanced at Yin Tieteng, and his smile widened. "Brother Kun is truly straightforward. I, Ao, will do my best to make this happen. There will be results within seven days."

Such transactions involve extremely valuable treasures, and there is usually no deposit required, since there is only one such treasure.

Although Kunfeng brought out two top-grade spiritual materials this time, the burly man in the green robe did not ask for a deposit.

However, since Kunfeng offered it, he naturally couldn't refuse and truly took this deal to heart.

Although the Yin Iron Vine is precious, it is not what he needs. Only by delivering the Jade Marrow Fungus to Kunfeng as soon as possible can he obtain the long-sought-after Spirit Coffin Wood and reforge the divine weapon.

After this incident, the atmosphere in the hall became even more harmonious. The three chatted for a while longer before Kunfeng got up to take his leave. The burly man in the green robe took the initiative to see him off.

The three walked out of the main hall, and not far in front of them was a cliff, with only a narrow path a few feet wide leading down the mountain.

This was naturally not built for the burly man in the green robe. As a demon general, he could fly here and there without needing a mountain path.

This hall was built for the slaves who served the burly man in the green robe, but today the transaction was extremely secretive, and the burly man in the green robe was very cautious. Even the slaves who had been placed under the restriction on their souls were all driven out of the hall.

The weather was excellent today. Except for the northern part of Fulong Island, where the Blue Dragon lived, which was shrouded in torrential rain and mist all year round, the rest of the island was sunny and clear.

The three stood on the edge of the cliff, gazing into the distance. They could see a towering tree, hundreds of feet tall, rising from the ground a hundred miles away, standing majestically like a mountain.

A deep blue dragon coiled around the giant tree, almost becoming one with it. Its aura was ethereal, and even from such a distance, it still inspired awe.

Kunfeng gazed at the giant tree and the azure dragon, his eyes flashing, and asked, "That towering ancient tree should be the Dragon Locust, the treasure of the dragon clan, and is the demon general Ao Cang perched on it?"

The burly man in the green robe straightened up, his eyes revealing reverence: "Indeed, our ancestor used the Dragon Locust Tree to comprehend the Great Dao, and has been in seclusion for a thousand years without ever leaving."

Kunfeng nodded casually and said, "Demon General Ao Cang's cultivation is unparalleled in the Myriad Demon Continent. The day of his ascension should not be far off."

The burly man in the green robe laughed heartily: "How could we juniors know about such a momentous matter? If Brother Kun is curious, you can go and ask Commander Kunyou."

He didn't want to say more about that, so he changed the subject: "Brother Kun, Fellow Daoist Dugu, please come with me."

The burly man in the green robe vanished in a flash, flying towards the edge of Fulong Island, with Dugu Sha close behind.

Kun Feng glanced deeply at the azure dragon coiled on the towering tree in the distance, paused for a moment at the two slight bulges on its head, then turned around, mounted his escape light, and followed.

The Fulong Island formation was extremely formidable. Without the guidance of the Jiaolong Demon General, Dugu Sha could have survived, but Kun Feng would have been certain to die.

Along the way, the three of them did not travel fast. Kun Feng's eyes would occasionally sweep around, looking thoughtful.

The burly man in the green robe observed this and asked, "I wonder how Fulong Island compares to Lieyuan Island?"

Kun Feng withdrew his gaze and smiled, "Each has its own merits, and they are evenly matched."

The burly man in the green robe laughed heartily. Rift Abyss Island was the ancestral home of the Kun fish clan. It was smaller than Fulong Island, and its spiritual energy was not as abundant.

However, Rift Abyss Island has a unique and mysterious terrain, and it would be fair to say that it is comparable to Crouching Dragon Island.

The three arrived at the edge of the Fulong Island formation, where a light blue barrier formed by condensed seawater stood, a thousand feet high and a hundred feet thick, encircling the entire Fulong Island.

The burly man in the green robe took out his identity jade token, and the seawater receded, revealing a passage.

The three passed through the passage. Kunfeng and Dugu Sha bid farewell, their escape lights flashing as they flew away into the distance.

The two remained silent for two thousand miles after leaving Fulong Island before Dugu Sha slowed down his escape.

He turned to look at Kun Feng, a hint of surprise in his eyes, and asked in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Xing Huo actually possesses the bloodline of the Kun fish?" (End of Chapter)